CD Reviews

There's Something About Suzi

B. Lynch | USA | 02/21/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What is it about Detroit?Iggy Pop, Ted Nugent, Bob Seger, Grand Funk Railroad, and Suzi Quatro are just some of the big names to come from that city. Every one of those acts has gone on to achieve some measure of nearly legendary stardom. Iggy Pop is widely credited as the father of Punk and glam (David Bowie and nearly every British Punk act paid tribute to Iggy & the Stooges); Grand Funk and Bob Seeger had legions of fans who just loved great rock & roll; Ted Nugent is an icon in heavy metal (and now with America's new anti-terrorism war, his fan base is surging again), And then there's Suzi Quatro. Probably the most overlooked femal rocker of the 1970's and early 1980's. Never as provocative as "The Runaways" and eclipsed by disco queens like Madonna or the soul music stars of the MTV era, she got no respect.What a sad commentary on the supposed feminism in the mnusic industry that real talent was overlooked while shlocky chicks with little talent were hyped to mega stardom. Well those ladies are gone, and after looking among the ruins of past music eras, Suzi Quatro's "hits" CD is like a buried jewel. I think that this is the sound that BLONDIE and some other bands with strong female leads always wanted to get, but never could.Unlike Blondie, the Suzi Quatro CD seems to have aged well. It is glam rock, with all the campiness, glitter, leather, and excess that genre contained, and even though some critics hate this stuff, like a Jeepster, it's too much fun for anyone to care what a critic thinks.There's not a bad song here. If you liked Drew Barrymore's character in "Charlie's Angel's" (the movie), you'll love this CD--because Suzi-Q is not just acting.Fans of Joan Jett and the Runaways will probably already have this and other Suzi Quatro CD's. The vocals are tough and gritty, but never dykeish and nasty. Musically, the guitar playing is strong and the songs have lots of good hooks. If Joan Jett is the female Mick Jagger, Suzi Quatro is the female Marc Bolan.One big surprise here is "Stumbling In", which sounds more pop than rock, but it's hard to figure out why this was not a huge hit.Other catchy songs: "Can The Can", "Your Momma Won't Like Me", "The Wild One", "Mama's Boy", and "Cat Size"."

A Goddess Encased in Leather

J. Barbee | Los Angeles, CA United States | 12/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Imagine my surprise when I discovered what was crouching behind the persona of "Happy Days' " Leather Tuscadero -- that the sweet, spunky, sterile version of Suzi Quatro that TV had created for middle America actually snarled like Elvis, and strutted like a pint-sized (and much tougher) Marc Bolan through songs that were sexy and sweaty enough to make you want to maul the nearest cute guy (or girl). Between the high-pitched wail at the beginning of "Can the Can," the sincere sing-along longing of "Cat Size," and the threatening promise in "Your Momma Won't Like Me" (although, really, how could she not?), her earlier material stands out in sharp relief to the rest of the simpy 70's AM pop that dominated the chart at the time, and drove Detroit's own Suzi right out to Europe where she could get the respect she deserved. Love her for the raspy delivery that she never believed to be "real" singing. Smile at the way that she ruled a bass guitar that was almost bigger than she was. Thank her for inspiring Joan Jett into a career in music. But most of all, idolize her for being totally herself, and more badass than you'll ever hope to be.If you think that you know everything there is to know about women in rock, and you don't own anything by Suzi Quatro, then, my friend, you don't know squat."

Underappreciated goddess in black leather

John Moulis | Australia | 06/01/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"What was it about Suzi Quatro that made every pubescent boy in the mid 1970s weak at the knees? Long before Elle MacPherson and Flo-Jo stole the hearts of successive generations of teenage boys Suzi was the one who set the pulses of 14 and 15- year-olds racing. She was just as popular among young girls and people in their late teens and twenties as well. Supplied with excellent material from the Chinn/Chapman songwriting juggernaut (the Stock/Aitken/Waterman of the 1970s who also supplied material to Smokie, Mud, The Sweet and The New World among others) it is surprising that this very American lass had to secure a recording contract with a British label because the American labels considered her too raunchy for American tastes. She finally landed an acting role on the classic family sitcom Happy Days where she portrayed a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who was always in her sister's shadow. She managed to sing Devilgate Drive on the show, albeit in an amended form. Anybody who listened to radio in Australia, Europe and Japan during the 1970s couldn't have missed her songs and she still makes the occasional cabaret tour of Australia. Incredibly she has a daughter who is now almost 30! Although Suzi had few hits in the US this excellent compilation is now available Stateside as a local release. It even contains the incredibly rare 1975 single Michael (not released on any LP), but once again we are denied the slow version of The Wild One which appeared as the B side of the more familiar rock version in Australia (probably due to a tape mix-up). It has never been reissued. Suzi broke from EMI's RAK Records in 1979 and signed up with an independent label the following year releasing Rock Hard, a song which was a minor hit and which has also never been reissued. Maybe Rhino can do a compilation CD where all the classic and rare tracks are finally brought together. In the meantime this CD will do just fine."

Its classic Quatro

Scott | Australia | 02/20/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's very unfortunate that Suzi Quatro's style of Rock n Roll music never had a big impression on the United States as this is where it all started for Women in Rock. Ok there was janis joplin and a few others but Suzi rely blasted open the door of Rock n Roll for Women and put them on the rock n roll map if you will..This is a great compliation of all those fantastic hits that made Suzi Quatro a house hold name in Europe Australia and Japan.. Suzi rely Rocked the joint, and is still touring to this day. This compliation tells a very good story of a lady that was meant to be around for a long time.. Without Elvis Presley there may not of been Suzi Quatro but without Suzi Quatro not just kicking in but blasting open the door for women who wanted to rock, that door perhaps may still may be closed even today..."

IT ROCKS!!!!

lazybeans3@aol.com | tennessee | 04/21/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the best of the greatest hits because it includes stumblin' in. amazon needs to make her music videos available. This particular cd also has great pics and bio."